Vikings: Flashier dressers than thought

A Swedish archeologist has determined that the Vikings did not dress the way we think, instead they displayed considerably more panache than believed.

Uppsala University archeologist Annika Larsson has determined the ancient Vikings enjoyed vivid colors, flowing silk ribbons and glittering bits of mirrors, with the men being especially vain, and the women dressed provocatively.

They combined oriental features with Nordic styles, said Larsson. Their clothing was designed to be shown off indoors around the fire.

Larsson's research shows that what is called the Viking Age -- 750-1050 A.D. -- was not a uniform period. Medieval Christian fashions were seen in Sweden as early as the late 900s and new trade routes came into use then as well. The oriental features in clothing disappeared when Christianity arrived.

Textile research can tell us more about the state of society than research into traditions, said Larsson, who presented some of her findings in her dissertation last year, according to a release from Uppsala University. "It's easy to imagine that the Christian church had certain reservations about clothing that accentuated the breasts Â? and, what's more, exposed the under shift in front.

It's also possible that this clothing was associated with pre-Christian rituals and was therefore forbidden, she said.

Copyright 2008 by United Press International